Improvement in cotton-picking machines



2 Sheets-Sheet-1. P. F. TRENKS.

. Cotton-Picking Machine. No. 221,755. gatented Nov. 18, I879.

WITN S IN VENTOR I V BY 0/ I ATTORNEYS.

N-PETERB, PHOTOJ-ITNOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. F. TRENK S. Cotton-Picking Machine. No. 221,755. Patented Nov. 18, I879.

MPETERSi. FHDTOJJYHOGRAPHER, WASNXNGTDN, D. C-

I ITE TTE S FREDERICK F. TRENKS, OF ROUND TOP, TEXAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,755, dated November 18, 1879; application filed March 14, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFREDERIGK F. TRENKS, of Round Top, in the county of Fayette and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Picking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to machines for picking cotton from the plants, and will be described in connection with the drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation on line as x of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The-operative parts of the machine are carried upon a wood or iron frame or truck, A, which frame is mounted at the rear upon an axle, a, and wheels b b, and at the front is supported by a snivcltruck, c, and wheels (1 (I. The truck 0 is furnished with a handle,f, by which it is turned to guide the machine.

Upon the axle a is a pulley, g, that is belted.

to a pulley, h, which is v on a counter-shaft, i, fitted in bearings at the center of the machine on the frame.

Upon shaft '6 are cog-wheels 7., that drive the picking-cylinders B, which are mounted one at each side of the machine and at the forward part.

The picking-cylinders B are similar in character. Upon the surface of each are sharppointed and curved fingers l, sufficiently numerous to remove all the cotton from the stalks and retain it upon the cylinder.

Each cylinder B has three radial flanges, it, one at eachcnd and in the center, the edges of which flanges are about on linewith the point of fingers Z.

The cylinders B are fitted in hearings in frame A, and their lower side should come on aline with the tops of the plants. Upon their axis are gear-Wheels m, which mesh with wheels k on shaft 2'.

At the rear of each cylinder B, and above their axis, are mounted strippers C", which consist of small cylinders having numerous sharp-pointed teeth 0 projecting radially, which teetho pass between the fingers lof the picking-cylinders.

Gear-wheels p on the axis of strippers O mesh with the gears g on the axis of B, so that the power to drive the strippers and pickers is obtained from the main axle aof the machine. a

The machine operates as next described. It will be drawn over the ground by horse-power, the wheels b running between the rows of plants, and two or more rows being acted upon by each melting-cylinder.

The cylinders B are caused'to revolve by the forward movement of the machine, and the teeth lpick or strip the cotton from. the plants. The curved shape of fingers 1 causes them to retain the cotton, which is carried upward until it is stripped from the fingers l by the teeth 0 of strippers O.

The strippers O revolve with considerable rapidity, and throw the cotton to the rear behind the rear board, .9, into a suitable receptacle. The flanges a act to bend down the plants, so that the fingers 0 may act more efficiently in removing the cotton.

I am aware that it is not new to pick by.

means of a brush or saw; but

What I claim is- In a cotton-picking machine, the picking cylinder B, provided with curved lingers l and flanges n, extending beyond the pickerfingers, as and for the purposes set forth.

F. F. TRENKS.

Witnesses WM. DORNWELL, ALEX. Faoscn. 

